First posted at 7:47 a.m.
MANILA, Philippines – Amalia Fuentes, the former Movie Queen of Philippine cinema, passed away on Saturday at the age of 79.
This was confirmed by her nephew, former child star Niño Muhlach, in an Instagram post.
Fuentes’ granddaughter, Alyanna Martinez, also announced the late actress’ demise via her own post.
“It is with great sadness that I together with my siblings Alfonso and Alissa, inform you that our Grandmother, Amalia Amador Muhlach has taken her last breath this morning in the Philippines,” she wrote.
According to Muhlach, Fuentes succumbed to cardiac arrest at 4 a.m.
“Dinala po siya sa [St. Luke’s Medical Center] nung three [or] four days ago. Tapos nagkaroon na siya ng multiple organ failure, tapos lagi siyang nagse-seizure,” Muhlach told DZMM in describing Fuentes’ final days.
(She was brought to St. Luke’s Medical Center either three or four days ago, then she had multiple organ failure and she always had seizures.)
Muhlach added that the veteran actress was “paralyzed” and “bed-ridden” over the past four years.
Details of the actress’ wake would later be announced, Muhlach added.
Dubbed as the “Elizabeth Taylor of the Philippines” for her striking resemblance with the legendary Hollywood actress, Fuentes achieved leading lady status as she starred in various films for Sampaguita Pictures during the late ’50s to ‘60s.
Fuentes won the Famas best actress award for her role in “Ibulong mo sa Hangin” in 1967, and the 1973 Manila Film Festival best actress award for “Pag-Ibig Mo Buhay Ko!”
The screen legend was married twice, first to her love-team partner, actor Romeo “Bobby” Vasquez, from 1965 to 1969. Their union bore a daughter, Anna Lisa or Liezl, who later married actor Albert Martinez.
Liezl passed away in 2015 from breast cancer, aged 47. Vasquez died two years later after his daughter.
READ: Actress Liezl Martinez dies of cancer; 47
Fuentes’ second marriage was to American businessman Joey Stevens. However, the union did not last as the two later separated. The couple adopted a son during their time together.
Stevens died in 2012.